July 11 - September 5, 2023

Building Project Management Expertise Week by Week

Designed to help new project managers gain skills and confidence to fit your firm's unique workflow specifications, Project Management 101: Laying the Foundation for Superior Project Managers offers online, schedule-friendly training in the field of project management.

Combining the convenience of on-demand learning and the immediacy and intensity of a live classroom, this 9-week interactive course provides a cost-effective way to learn the fundamentals of project management—with little or no disruption to billable staff time.

Participants can expect to spend about two hours each week split between:

• Recorded lectures
• Small group discussions where you'll meet with 3-5 peers to answer case study questions (scheduled at your group's convenience)
• Live, instructor-led discussions every Tuesday at 1:30-2:00 PM Eastern where you'll dive deeper into the case studies and have the opportunity to ask questions about the recorded lectures

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction

• Review Syllabus and Course Structure, Grading, and Expectations
• The Primary Job of a Project Manager
• How Do Project Managers Communicate?

Module 2: Project Management Team and Process Management Concepts

• Primary Role of Team Managers - Management Concepts
• Problems Traced to a Weak/Ineffective Project Management System
• Organization Life Cycle Curve
• Project Delivery Systems and Methods
• Impact on Construction Costs
• Client Selection of Design Consultants
• Owner/Client Concerns, Needs, & Role

Module 3: Planning and Management Concepts for Project Managers

• Long-Range Planning Process-Elements
• Decision-Making Management Concepts
• Strategic Project Management Plan

Module 4: The Project Team Manager

• Team Managers Characteristics and Responsibilities
• RFP/RFQ Preparation/Fee Determination and Negotiation
• Role of Design Firm Project Managers in The Marketing Process
• Delegation Techniques/Leveling Workload
• Developing Training Programs, Mentoring Programs

Module 5: Soft Skills

• Time Management
• Preparing and Editing Written Materials
• Public Speaking
• Listening Skills
• Successful Negotiating

Module 6: Working with Engineering/Architectural Firms

• Owner/Client Criteria for Selecting A/E Consultants
• Factors Impacting Traditional A/E Consultants
• External Constraints on A/E Designers
• Project Phases and Personnel Responsibilities
• Project Development Steps
• Basic Financial Model for Design Firms
• Profit Planning for Design Firms

Module 7: Scoping, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Billing

• Scope Determination
• Managing Scope Creep and Project Design Change Orders
• A/E Contract Types
• Project Cost Plan/Project Budgeting
• Monitoring/Controlling Design Costs
• Prompt Payment of Sub Consultants by the Prime Consultant
• Billing Checklist
• Prompt Payment of Design Consultants by the Prime Consultant
• Controlling Project Design Costs
• Project Administration and Notebooks
• Project Manager Manuals, Development and Content

Module 8: Project Quality/Risk Management/Other Topics

• Concepts: Quality and Risk Management
• Quality Assurance Programs
• Peer Review Programs
• Value Engineering
• Commissioning/Partnering
• Project Closeout and Client Satisfaction/Feedback
• Building Information Modeling (BIM)
• Peer Review Programs

Module 9: Staffing and Scheduling

• Staffing Issues
• Project Scheduling and Planning
• Responsibilities of a Project Manager in Preparing a Plan
• Benefits and Limitations of Project Schedule Networks

About the Instructor:

Howard Birnberg is president of Birnberg & Associates, a management consulting and association management firm, and executive director of the Association for Project Managers. For six years, he served as an instructor on project management in the Office of Executive Education at the Harvard University, Graduate School of Design. He also served as an adjunct assistant professor at Michigan State University, College of Human Ecology. Mr. Birnberg formerly served as a lecturer on project management for the University of Wisconsin, Department of Engineering Professional Development for nearly twenty years. He has also lectured at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Northwestern University, University of Kansas and Andrews University.

He is the author of Project Management for Designers and Facilities Managers, 4th ed. (J. Ross Publishing, 2015), Project Management for Building Designers and Owners (CRC Press, 1998), Project Management for Small Design Firms (McGraw-Hill, 1992) and served as general editor of New Directions in Architectural and Engineering Practice (McGraw-Hill, 1992). His research and articles regularly appear in professional journals, and he is a former columnist for Civil + Structural Engineer magazine.

Mr. Birnberg holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree from the Ohio State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis.

Registration

ACEC Members: $1045
Non-Members: $1345

>> Click to register.

Location

This course takes place entirely online through recorded lectures and live discussions via zoom.

Contact

Maureen Brown
202-682-4349
education@acec.org

Refunds, Credits, Substitutions, and Cancellations
For cancellations received at least 15 days prior to program date, ACEC will issue a full refund. For cancellations received between 14 days and 3 days prior to program date, ACEC will issue credits toward any ACEC online class, live or on-demand. Credits are valid for 6 months from issue date. For cancellations received 2 days or less before a program date, no refunds or credits will be issued. Refunds or credits will not be issued for "no-shows." Registrants may choose another online class or substitute attendee/s without penalty at any time. Contact education@acec.org for further information.